Laceless bodice



March 26, 1957 A. c. PAYNE 2,786,205

LACELESS BODICE Filed Aug. 31, 1953 INVENTOR LACELESS BODICE Luis Augusto Carreira Payne, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application August 31, 1953, Serial No, 377,631

1 Claim. '(Cl. 2-42) The present invention refers to a new strapless brassiere, i. e., of the type which is not provided with straps for suspending the bodice from the shoulders, such straps being fastened at their ends at convenient points of the bodice.

Heretofore, the ordinary practice with strapless bodice has been to use rings or other such members made of rigid materials which are injurious to the wearers body. The main object of the present invention is to provide means aifording a very efficient form of bodice and brassiere made of any type of material whereby the side parts of the garment are connected with the central part thereof in an elastic manner, tongues or stays of resilient material being shaped to extend towards and along the waist, thus forming a smooth seat and an elastic surface for the waist.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious from the following description.

In order that the present invention may be readily understood and carried into effect by those skilled in the art, a detailed description will hereinafter be given of a preferred manner of carrying same into use, with reference to the accompanying drawings that are a part of said description, the example given being an illustrative but not limitative example.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view, in elevation, of a bodice made in accordance with the present invention, in extended condition;

Fig. 2 shows the main portion of the bodice, with the stays inserted;

Fig. 3 is a section view of the said main part showing how same is shaped by an elastic means; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of a user with the bodice in place.

All through the above figures, the same reference numbers designate same or equivalent parts.

With reference to the drawings, 1 designates the main part defining a pair of breast pockets and Whose upper ends 6-6 are connected by the elastic means 2 and 2 with the dividing member or salient 3; and at each side thereof are provided tongues 4 and 5. End 6-6, tongues 4-5, and salient 3, as Fig. 2 shows, carry amongst the plies of material forming part 1, small Plates of flexible reinforcing material or stays made of rubber, plastic, etc. designated with the numerals 7-11 and presenting each an enlarged base positioned adjacent the lower marginal edge or band of the brassiere.

Central stay 9 is in the form of an inverted T, whereas lateral stays 7 and 11 are J-shaped. The horizontal bases of said stays are substantially aligned to but spaced from each other to form discontinuous hinges therebetween.

Adjacent the lower edge of part 1, elastic cords 12 are provided to contact the flesh of the user. Arranged at both sides of main part 1 there are secured elastic side panel members 13, 14, and 13', 14' and 15', vertically spaced from each other, having their free ends respectively secured to bands 16 and 17 carrying series of locking parts or other similar securing means for the bodice.

It will be evident that the construction described and illustrated provides the advantages already mentioned and the application of the bodice to the body of the user as shown in Fig. 4, which is carried out through the simple operation of putting it on and securing the ends of bands 16 and 17.

It can thus be realized that there has been provided according to the invention a strapless brassiere comprising a plurality of plies of material forming two spaced breast pocket portions, separate, substantially fiat reinforcing members 7, 9, 11 of plastic material disposed between said plies of said material, one of said members being in the form of an inverted T and being located between said breast pocket portions, the other of said reinforcing members being J-shaped and positioned at the lateral outer ends of said breast pocket portions, to thereby form a central inverted T-shaped stay 9 and J-shaped lateral stays '7, 11, respectively, the bases of said stays being substantially aligned to each other and located in spaced relation to each other below said breast pocket portions, so as to define discontinuous flexible hinges 8, 10; horizontally extending elastic side panel means 13, 14, 15 being connected to a respective outer end of said breast pocket portions, a pair of bands 16, 17 extending from and connected with said elastic side panel means, respectively, and interengageable formations fixed to said bands, respectively, whereby said upright reinforcing members 7, 9, 11 support said breast pocket portions, while said bases and said elastic side panel means retain said brassiere in predetermined position on the wearers body during use.

It is clear that the constructive details described and illustrated show one of the various Ways that may be applied to make the bodice and that, therefore, such details may vary without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention which is more precisely stated forth in the annexed drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A strapless brassiere comprising a plurality of plies of material forming two spaced breast pocket portions, substantially fiat reinforcing members of plastic material disposed between said plies of said material, one of said members being in the form of an inverted T and being located between said breast pocket portions, the other of said members being J-shaped and being positioned at the lateral outer ends of said breast pocket portions, to thereby form a separate central stay and separate lateral stays, respectively, the bases of said inverted T-shaped and of said J-shaped members being substantially aligned to each other and located in spaced relation to each other below said breast pocket portions, so as to define discontinuous flexible hinges, horizontally extending elastic side panel means connected to a respective outer end of said breast pocket portions, a pair of bands extending from and connected with said elastic side panel means, respectively, and interengageable formations fixed to said bands, respectively, whereby said reinforcing members support said breast pocket portions, while said bases and said elastic side panel means retain said brassiere in predetermined position on the wearers body during use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,429,680 Goddard Oct. 28, 1947 2,462,295 Wittenberg Feb. 22, 1949 2,471,587 Rubinstein May 31, 1949 2,648,069 Gil Aug. 11, 1953 2,698,940 Dombek Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 660,379 Germany May 21, 1938 1,043,638 France June 17, 1953 

